USS Abraham Lincoln Deployment Exceeds 265 Days, Father Says Forever War

The father of a 20-year-old sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has criticised President Donald Trump's engagement with Iran as a "forever war" and offered to take his son's place as the aircraft carrier's deployment surpasses 265 days. Jefferson Kelly of Cincinnati told Newsweek his son, who joined the US Navy enthusiastically to become an engineer, is now serving on a carrier redirected from an Indo-Pacific mission to the Middle East in January 2025. The ship supported joint US-Israel attacks on Iran on 28 February and the subsequent blockade of Iranian ports.

Families have reported shortages of supplies such as sanitary products and razors, disrupted mail, plumbing problems, and exhaustion among the nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines. Ashley Rogers, wife of a senior officer, said care packages took 2.5 months to arrive and that her husband sounds "defeated". The Navy insists sailors have clean water and healthy meals, with food prioritised during combat operations. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports of conditions "completely misrepresented". Kelly stressed his concerns were his own, not prompted by his son.

The Trump administration said the 28 February strikes were intended to eliminate threats from Iran, which responded with missile and drone attacks on US-linked targets. Trump has dismissed concerns about deployment length, saying it has not lasted long enough. Retired Vice Admiral Robert Murrett warned such extended tours place "a great deal of pressure" on personnel and future schedules.